TextRanch

The best way to perfect your writing.

Discover why 1,062,726 users count on TextRanch to get their English corrected!

1. Input your text below.
2. Get it corrected in a few minutes by our editors.
3. Improve your English!

One of our experts will correct your English.

Our experts

prefer to have vs prefer having

'Prefer to have' and 'prefer having' are both correct, common English phrases. The choice between them depends on the context and personal preference.
Gregg profile picture

Explained by Gregg
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: June 17, 2024 • 14204 views

prefer to have

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used when expressing a preference for possessing or owning something. It is followed by a noun or object pronoun.

Examples:

  • I prefer to have a cup of tea in the morning.
  • She prefers to have her own car rather than using public transportation.
  • Do you prefer to have a window seat on the plane?
  • So instead of hoping an emergency I prefer to have reserves.
  • I can say quite frankly that I would prefer to have the satisfaction of full employment and twenty million jobs in Europe than full subsidisation.
  • Sows prefer to have social interactions with other pigs when provided with freedom of movement and environmental complexity.
  • Ask the parents if they prefer to have their son in a wheelchair or dead.
  • You may not need a transplant, but we prefer to have a donor on standby, ready to go.
  • Other political groups prefer to have their offices outside Parliament, and have their own officials and adopt totally legal financing formulae.
  • You and your company, I've lost art in shipping before, You see, and I prefer to have my possessions in my possession.
  • (10) Sows prefer to have social interactions with other pigs when provided with freedom of movement and environmental complexity. The current practice of keeping sows in continuous close confinement should therefore be prohibited.
  • I'd much prefer to have you there with me...
  • Most people prefer to have treatment near their home, where friends and family can visit.
  • But I'd prefer to have my pie and be normal too.
  • I prefer to have my own office.
  • We'd prefer to have this conversation in private.
  • I understand why it would prefer to have two separate programmes.
  • Actually, I'd prefer to have a quick go-around, maybe with a vacuum cleaner, just to clean up a little bit.
  • Anyway, I'd prefer to have you at your best in the morning.
  • Look, I'm all about cooperating, but I'd prefer to have my people handle this.
  • We prefer to have effective agreements on noise and emission worldwide, but should these not materialise, we certainly will not rule out a European policy.
  • I would very much prefer to have been very hard on Mr Liikanen.
  • I would prefer to have a list of Italian words which aren't in the corpus.

Alternatives:

  • like to have
  • would rather have
  • opt to have
  • choose to have
  • desire to have

prefer having

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used when expressing a preference for the state of possessing or experiencing something. It is followed by a gerund (verb+ing).

Examples:

  • I prefer having a quiet evening at home rather than going out.
  • They prefer having a flexible work schedule.
  • She prefers having a cat as a pet.
  • I prefer having George out of our apartment.
  • If you don't mind, I prefer having my misfortunes taken seriously.
  • Initially, icons do not have any text assigned. You may prefer having text under each icon, or text alongside each icon. You can also have plain texts without any icons.
  • One of the clear responses we gathered from the public consultation was that the citizens would prefer having a certain uniformity when it comes to the verification and the collection of signatures.
  • If you prefer having the language keyboard layout, please use & systemsettings;, in the section Personal, Regional & Language and submenu Keyboard Layout in order to set the correct keyboard layout.
  • I prefer having mine towed and getting it fixed.
  • In time we would prefer to see aviation having a completely separate scheme for trading in emission allowances.
  • In this case, despite having the powers to propose legislation, the Commission prefers a different approach.
  • I prefer to think of it as me not having been on her radar yet.
  • - while the eagle prefers to find its own meals, there is nothing wrong in having a little help.
  • Rather than having stadiums built for European championships, I would prefer money to be invested for our citizens - in buildings, heating networks and renewable energies.
  • I prefer a frank and open talk, and having a chance to solve one issue, maybe solving others the next time around.
  • Rather than having to open a text console to type the mount or umount commands, you may prefer to use & konqueror;'s Tools Execute Shell Command (Ctrl; E) feature.
  • Rather than having to plead for a small amount to be returned to us, we should prefer to retain our funds and decide for ourselves how they are spent.
  • Anyway, I prefer to be accused of having killed her for that, too, rather than having it said that I was jealous of her.
  • I don't know if I'd call us friends, but if you and Marcel are planning on having a little throwdown, I'd prefer my family to be on the same side as the inevitable Victor.
  • Clinton cannot forgive the Iraqi government for having thwarted the plot hatched by the CIA to overthrow it and demonstrated that the great majority of the four million Iraqi Kurds would prefer, together with Mr Barzani's party, to remain within their national borders.
  • Having said this, I would, of course, prefer all Member States to accept the Charter of Fundamental Rights because I believe this Charter is a basic compass for all European Union policies.
  • And from this point of view, I prefer to remain optimistic, having learnt from past experience that this type of institution is too often put forward as a means of promoting the emergence of the large centralized European state of which many dream so unashamedly.
  • Is convinced that a finance minister will prefer to establish properly functioning supervisory systems and controls instead of running the risk of having to explain to his/her Parliament why the national purse has to repay substantial sums to the European Union;

Alternatives:

  • like having
  • would rather have
  • opt for having
  • choose having
  • desire having

Related Comparisons

suggested having vs suggested to have prefer having vs prefer to have expect having vs expect to have suggest to have vs suggest to having need to have vs need of having wish to have vs wish having

What Our Customers Are Saying

Our customers love us! We have an average rating of 4.79 stars based on 283,125 votes.
Also check out our 2,100+ reviews on TrustPilot (4.9TextRanch on TrustPilot).

Why choose TextRanch?

Lowest prices
Up to 50% lower than other online editing sites.

Fastest Times
Our team of editors is working for you 24/7.

Qualified Editors
Native English experts for UK or US English.

Top Customer Service
We are here to help. Satisfaction guaranteed!